The fund was named after Meisha, a Labrador/Terrier/Spaniel mixture which lived for nearly 10 years after her diagnosis with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) at the age of three. AIHA is also known as IMHA. This autoimmune disease causes a dog's body to destroy its own red blood cells. There is no cure and more than 50% of dogs die within weeks of diagnosis.

 

After Meisha’s death in November 2001, her owners Joanne and David Dickson established Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at MAF, an organisation dedicated to funding research into this deadly disease.

 

So far, MAF has raised more than $150,000 in research funding, with its studies providing an early insight into the blood clotting complications which often cause death in dogs with AIHA/ IMHA, as well as novel drug treatments.

 

Mr Marcus says that he decided to raise money for the fund because of the lack of research into AIHA/IMHA. He will debut his BMW Z4 M coupe, which will sport paw print decals and the Morris Animal Foundation colors and logo, on 24th May at Lime Rock Park Race Track in Connecticut, USA.

 

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The Lime Rock event will also include informational brochures about AIHA/IMHA. Caps, t-shirts and stickers featuring the paw print and logos will be available and donations accepted, with proceeds going directly to the fund. Additional proceeds from events at the KONI Challenge and BMWCCA will go into the fund as well. Through his "Race for Hope" fundraising efforts, Mr Marcus hopes to raise more than $500,000 for AIHA/IMHA research.

 

"This is how I can help my own dog and other dogs," says Mr Marcus. "We have the tremendous ability to showcase the Morris Animal Foundation and what it does and to direct funds to the Meisha's Hope Fund for further research. I'm going for it and I don't like to be second place."

 

The Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, says that it is dedicated to funding research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. It claims to have been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals in some 100 countries. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado, USA. The Foundation has funded nearly 1,400 humane animal health studies with funds totaling more than $51 million. All annual donations go to fund health study programs. Charity Navigator ranks MAF as a four-star charity, the highest rating. For more information, call +1 800 243-2345, or visit www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.